Shakib should overcome patchy form
He fails to deliver with both bat and ball
Syed Mohammed Pithu from The Oval, London
While the senior players keep ticking the boxes regularly, showing a performance that the team wants from them, one remains the shadow of himself. Shakib Al Hasan hasnt been quite in form since the Tri-nation series which started affecting Bangladesh now in the ICC Champions Trophy.
Tamim Iqbal has been in top of his form, so as Mushfiqur Rahim. Mashrafe Bin Mortaza is also doing his job almost perfectly while the youngsters like Mosaddek Hossain Saikat, Sabbir Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman prop up their game when it matters. The only missing link is Shakib Al Hasan who should come all guns blazing had Bangladesh wants to stay alive in the tournament.
Shakibs performance is believed to be the reason behind Bangladeshs crushing loss to England despite amassing a decent total of 305 for eight. It was the first time for Bangladesh to score 300 plus against the England and that too at their own den.
The score could have been 330 plus easily should Shakib could come up with some sensible batting at the death. He made only 10 off eight with two boundaries. As an experienced T20 player who played all of the big domestic tournaments around the world, expectation was high on Shakib to push for big scores if Bangladesh get a platform. Of late Shakib has failed to do that job perfectly, leaving Bangladesh in an embarrassing situation. In the last 10 matches across the format, he had no half-century with highest 44 came against Ireland A team in a practice game.
The third-wicket pair between Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim, who added 166 runs, fell to Liam Plunkett off consecutive deliveries in the 45th over, after which Shakib Al Hasan, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah and Mosaddek Hossain could manage only five boundaries between them in the remaining 32 deliveries. At the end, everyone is of opinion that Bangladesh were at least 20 runs short.
It actually made the difference. In modern cricket, every team is used to score at quick pace in the last 10 overs and make up if they are slow in the middle overs. It is true sometimes Tamim Iqbal and Mushfiqur Rahim were slow when they needed to push for runs but they paved a well platform from which it was duty to Shakib to take the side in a position of dominance.
Instead Bangladesh were left in a position during the break that they couldnt believe strongly that they could win the match.
What is the advantage for an all-rounder is that he could make amend either batting or bowling. Bowling was due for Shakib and he had the chance to stamp his authority. But his patchy batting form seemed to have an adverse impact on his bowling. The bite and guile have been absent for a long time while the serenity with which he dealt with many problematic situation also remain absent. And in last 10 innings across the format, he scalped just nine wickets with the best three for 24 against Sri Lanka.
Coming to share the new ball with Mashrafe Bin Mortaza, Shakib Al Hasan couldnt make any impact. Instead English batsmen found his bowling particularly to their liking and made it toothless. He eventually went wicket-less, conceding 62 in eight overs.
While the England part is over, still Bangladesh has the chance to make it semi-final but for that they need to beat the teams like Australia and New Zealand. The way the team has been playing, it is not insane thinking that Bangladesh would defeat them. In fact Bangladeshs only victory against Australia came in England soil, though at Cardiff. Bangladesh this time would take on Australia at The Oval on Monday while face off New Zealand at Cardiff. But that would materialize if Shakib Al Hasan could complement the performance of Tamim, Mushfiqur, Mashrafe.
